Following the passing of a reform-oriented Pope Francis, who had been the head of the Catholic Church since 2013, discussions have begun regarding his potential successors.
The papal conclave, where the next Pope will be elected, is scheduled to commence on May 7. 133 cardinals will participate in the voting process. Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle of the Philippines has emerged as a prominent candidate to succeed Pope Francis. If elected, Cardinal Tagle, who currently holds the position of pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, would become the first Asian Pope in centuries.
In 2018, when asked about the possibility of becoming Pope, Tagle responded lightheartedly, laughing and saying, “I don’t think so. I don’t think they want me there… They would appreciate my company for occasional visits, but for me to stay there [in Rome]? Probably no.”
As conversations continue about who will succeed Pope Francis, here’s what you should know about Cardinal Tagle:
Cardinal Tagle’s background and early years in the Catholic Church
Cardinal Tagle, 67, was ordained as a priest for the Archdiocese of Manila in 1982 and is commonly known by his nickname, “Chito.”
In 1985, Tagle went to the United States to study theology at the Catholic University of America. After returning to the Philippines, Tagle taught and remained a leader in the Philippines religious community before becoming the Archbishop of Manila in 2011. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to the College of Cardinals.
In 2015, Tagle was chosen as the president of Caritas Internationalis, a Vatican-based group of Catholic relief and development organizations operating globally. In 2019, Pope Francis appointed him as Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the missionary branch of the Church. Following this appointment, he relocated to Rome, leaving his home in Manila, to take on his new role.
After his move, then-President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte allegedly spread rumors that Tagle was involved in a conspiracy to overthrow him, rumors that Philippine Bishops refuted. Duterte has since been arrested and appeared (via video link) at the International Criminal Court in March. He faces charges related to his brutal anti-drug campaign in the Philippines, which human rights groups estimate resulted in over 30,000 deaths.
Tagle has publicly lamented the loss of life in the Philippines. In a 2017 sermon, he stated: “We knock on the consciences of those who kill even the helpless, especially those who cover their faces with bonnets, to stop wasting human lives.”
Tagle participated in the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis and is regarded as a leader who shares similar views with the former Pope, particularly in his focus on the poor and his welcoming attitude toward LGBTQ+ individuals, migrants, and divorced and remarried Catholics.
His support for LGBTQ+ Catholics and migrants
Although Tagle has affirmed traditional Church teachings, he is also known for supporting LGBTQ+ Catholics, migrants, and the poor, which has led many to draw parallels between him and Pope Francis. His compassionate approach distinguishes him from others.
Regarding his support for migrants, Tagle highlighted that his own family’s history began with migration, as his maternal grandfather was born in China.
“Migration is a chance for people to bloom as human beings. It is a chance for them to create a better life for themselves and future generations,” Tagle stated on the Caritas website. “Like Christ on his journey to the cross, migration pushes people beyond their physical and mental borders, it stretches their capacities and takes them through deserts of loneliness and rejection. But people bear this journey of sacrifice for a noble cause.”
Tagle is also recognized for his more inclusive perspectives on the LGBTQ+ community.
“The harsh words that were used in the past to refer to gays and divorced and separated people, the unwed mothers… were quite severe,” Tagle told the U.S. Congress in 2015. “Many people who belonged to those groups were branded and that led to their isolation from the wider society.”
Critics on his handling of complaints and administrative issues
Some advocates have criticized Tagle’s handling of abuse complaints.
On March 25, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, an advocacy group, sent a letter to the Vatican requesting an investigation into Tagle’s alleged “oversight of complaints against bishops in Aotearoa [New Zealand].” Other Catholic leaders were also mentioned in the letter.
Tagle has previously stated that the Catholic Church must confront the “wounds” of sexual abuse and handle them with transparency.
Concerns have also been raised regarding Tagle’s performance in administrative roles. “Tagle is considered intelligent, a good theologian, and a good communicator. But in many ways he has not been a very good administrator in some of the jobs he’s had in the Vatican. He has not proven himself in that role,” Charles Collins, managing editor of Crux, a publication covering the Vatican and the Catholic Church, told NBC.
In 2022, Pope Francis dissolved the leadership of Caritas Internationalis, appointing a commissioner to manage the organization, following allegations of bullying and humiliation of employees.